Universal Access in Airports
Universal Access in Airports (UAIA) provides a unique opportunity for dialogue among the various stakeholders in the aviation industry–airports, airlines, airline service companies, travelers, and suppliers. This two-day conference, held biennially by Open Doors Organization since 2006, offers an open exchange of ideas and best practice solutions on customer service and accessibility for air travelers with disabilities and aging/older adults.
Universal Access in Airports 2022
Save the Date! UAIA 2022 will be held at Skyview 8 – American Airlines’ headquarters on October 18-20, 2022. Sponsorship opportunities are available.
Early-bird registration is now open! Click below to register with the discounted rate.
As in previous years, UAIA will kick-off with the airline-only event, the Airline Symposium. This free event will be held on Tuesday, October 18 from 10:00am-4:00pm at Skyview 8. More information to come.
Contact Katy O’Reilly with questions.
Past Events
Universal Access in Airports 2018
UAIA 2018, held Aug. 27-29 at the InterContinental Hotel MSP, was the most international to date with representatives from Austria, Canada, France, the UK, Switzerland and Japan.
Presentations–August 28, 2018
(In alphabetical order)
Phil Burke, MSP, Part 1
Phil Burke, MSP, Part 2
Roberto Castiglioni, Heathrow Access Advisory Board
Seena Foster, TSA
Maegan Johnson, DOT
Heather Karch, SEA
Jonathan Klein, FAA
Sara Marchant, LGW, Pres. 1
William Neece, Ozion
Leon Patterson, Maryland Aviation Administration
Linda Ristagno, IATA
Alan Howell, MSP and Jens Vange, Alliiance
Presentations–August 29, 2018
(In alphabetical order)
Frank Ciaccio, Houston Airport System
Konrad Gruber, Bulmor
Katie Hench, Infiniteach
Anila Jivanji, American Airlines
Ruben Kazantsev, Antikythera, Part 1
Ruben Kazantsev, Antikythera, Part 2
Jason Luebke, AvTech
Sara Marchant, LGW, Pres. 2
Cathy Nyfors, YVR
Rasha Said, Sensible Innovations (Coming Soon)
Sonny Smith, Air Care Travelers (Coming Soon)
Greg Stilson, Aira
Satoshi Sugie, WHILL Inc.
Please contact Katy O’Reilly for presentations in an accessible format.
Presenting Sponsor
ODO Airline Symposium 2018
Monday, August 27, Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, MN
Open Doors Organization now holds its Airline Symposium biennially in conjunction with Universal Access in Airports. This invitation only, closed-door session allows air carriers—national, regional and international—to discuss problems and share best practices regarding services and facilities for air travelers with disabilities.
IATA Global Accessibility Symposium
The IATA Global Accessibility Symposium took place on 05-06 November 2019 at the Dubai World Trade Centre.
The Symposium, kindly hosted by Emirates, offered an unparalleled platform of discussion among stakeholders and passengers regarding how air transport can be a truly accessible and inclusive industry for passengers with disabilities.
In addition to the unique opportunity to look at some of the regulatory/policy approaches worldwide, the Symposium also identified operational best practices and looked at innovative technologies that enable persons with disabilities to have access to a safe, reliable and dignified travel experiences.
View the agenda here
Upcoming Webinars
Best Practices for Stowage and Handling of Assistive Devices
Wednesday, June 8 from 11:00am-1:00pm CDT
| In 2019, 685,792 assistive devices were enplaned on US flights but few ground handlers have been trained on the proper handling and stowage of these delicate, and extremely important, devices. Join ODO’s Eric Lipp and Craig Kennedy as they discuss proper procedures and best practices that minimize the chance for damage on mobility devices of all types. Key Topics
FREE Registration to Open in April 2022 |
Findings from ACRP Report 210 Innovative Solutions to Facilitate Accessibility for Airport Travelers with Disabilities
Tuesday, August 25 from 11:00am-1:00pm CDT
ACRP Report 210 provides guidance and information to airports and their stakeholders on innovative solutions to facilitate accessibility for passengers with a variety of physical, sensory and/or cognitive challenges. This guidance is applicable to all types and sizes of airports and includes leveraging digital or physical innovation at passenger touch points and throughout the course of the journey.
ODO served as lead on this research project with contributions and support from Alliance, Arora Engineers, Trillion Aviation, and Indiana University.
Key Topics
- The unmet needs of travelers with various disability types including physical, sensory and cognitive challenges, and non-English speakers
- Barriers to equitable service
- Best practice solutions for improving access with examples from U.S. and foreign airports
- Key recommendations and implementation methods for continual improvement among stakeholders
Featured Research
- ACRP Report 210: Innovative Solutions to Facilitate Accessibility for Airport Travelers with Disabilities
